diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 0e26025..e25091f 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -2291,6 +2291,7 @@ S:	Maintained
 F:	Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-class-net-batman-adv
 F:	Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-class-net-mesh
 F:	Documentation/networking/batman-adv.txt
+F:	include/uapi/linux/batman_adv.h
 F:	net/batman-adv/
 
 BAYCOM/HDLCDRV DRIVERS FOR AX.25
diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/batman_adv.h b/include/uapi/linux/batman_adv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79f7972
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/batman_adv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/* Copyright (C) 2016 B.A.T.M.A.N. contributors:
+ *
+ * Matthias Schiffer
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _UAPI_LINUX_BATMAN_ADV_H_
+#define _UAPI_LINUX_BATMAN_ADV_H_
+
+#define BATADV_NL_NAME "batadv"
+
+/**
+ * enum batadv_nl_attrs - batman-adv netlink attributes
+ *
+ * @BATADV_ATTR_UNSPEC: unspecified attribute to catch errors
+ * @__BATADV_ATTR_AFTER_LAST: internal use
+ * @NUM_BATADV_ATTR: total number of batadv_nl_attrs available
+ * @BATADV_ATTR_MAX: highest attribute number currently defined
+ */
+enum batadv_nl_attrs {
+	BATADV_ATTR_UNSPEC,
+	/* add attributes above here, update the policy in netlink.c */
+	__BATADV_ATTR_AFTER_LAST,
+	NUM_BATADV_ATTR = __BATADV_ATTR_AFTER_LAST,
+	BATADV_ATTR_MAX = __BATADV_ATTR_AFTER_LAST - 1
+};
+
+/**
+ * enum batadv_nl_commands - supported batman-adv netlink commands
+ *
+ * @BATADV_CMD_UNSPEC: unspecified command to catch errors
+ * @__BATADV_CMD_AFTER_LAST: internal use
+ * @BATADV_CMD_MAX: highest used command number
+ */
+enum batadv_nl_commands {
+	BATADV_CMD_UNSPEC,
+	/* add new commands above here */
+	__BATADV_CMD_AFTER_LAST,
+	BATADV_CMD_MAX = __BATADV_CMD_AFTER_LAST - 1
+};
+
+#endif /* _UAPI_LINUX_BATMAN_ADV_H_ */
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/Makefile b/net/batman-adv/Makefile
index a55f4ec..7da5901 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/Makefile
+++ b/net/batman-adv/Makefile
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ batman-adv-y += icmp_socket.o
 batman-adv-$(CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_DEBUG) += log.o
 batman-adv-y += main.o
 batman-adv-$(CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_MCAST) += multicast.o
+batman-adv-y += netlink.o
 batman-adv-$(CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_NC) += network-coding.o
 batman-adv-y += originator.o
 batman-adv-y += routing.o
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/main.c b/net/batman-adv/main.c
index eab9d1b..275604b 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/main.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/main.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 #include "icmp_socket.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "multicast.h"
+#include "netlink.h"
 #include "network-coding.h"
 #include "originator.h"
 #include "packet.h"
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ static int __init batadv_init(void)
 
 	register_netdevice_notifier(&batadv_hard_if_notifier);
 	rtnl_link_register(&batadv_link_ops);
+	batadv_netlink_register();
 
 	pr_info("B.A.T.M.A.N. advanced %s (compatibility version %i) loaded\n",
 		BATADV_SOURCE_VERSION, BATADV_COMPAT_VERSION);
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ static int __init batadv_init(void)
 static void __exit batadv_exit(void)
 {
 	batadv_debugfs_destroy();
+	batadv_netlink_unregister();
 	rtnl_link_unregister(&batadv_link_ops);
 	unregister_netdevice_notifier(&batadv_hard_if_notifier);
 	batadv_hardif_remove_interfaces();
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/netlink.c b/net/batman-adv/netlink.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e4c865
--- /dev/null
+++ b/net/batman-adv/netlink.c
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/* Copyright (C) 2016 B.A.T.M.A.N. contributors:
+ *
+ * Matthias Schiffer
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of version 2 of the GNU General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+ * General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "netlink.h"
+#include "main.h"
+
+#include <linux/genetlink.h>
+#include <linux/init.h>
+#include <linux/printk.h>
+#include <net/genetlink.h>
+#include <uapi/linux/batman_adv.h>
+
+static struct genl_family batadv_netlink_family = {
+	.id = GENL_ID_GENERATE,
+	.hdrsize = 0,
+	.name = BATADV_NL_NAME,
+	.version = 1,
+	.maxattr = BATADV_ATTR_MAX,
+};
+
+static struct genl_ops batadv_netlink_ops[] = {
+};
+
+/**
+ * batadv_netlink_register - register batadv genl netlink family
+ */
+void __init batadv_netlink_register(void)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = genl_register_family_with_ops(&batadv_netlink_family,
+					    batadv_netlink_ops);
+	if (ret)
+		pr_warn("unable to register netlink family");
+}
+
+/**
+ * batadv_netlink_unregister - unregister batadv genl netlink family
+ */
+void batadv_netlink_unregister(void)
+{
+	genl_unregister_family(&batadv_netlink_family);
+}
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/netlink.h b/net/batman-adv/netlink.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39044cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/net/batman-adv/netlink.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/* Copyright (C) 2016 B.A.T.M.A.N. contributors:
+ *
+ * Matthias Schiffer
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of version 2 of the GNU General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+ * General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _NET_BATMAN_ADV_NETLINK_H_
+#define _NET_BATMAN_ADV_NETLINK_H_
+
+#include "main.h"
+
+void batadv_netlink_register(void);
+void batadv_netlink_unregister(void);
+
+#endif /* _NET_BATMAN_ADV_NETLINK_H_ */
